Emotional wellness can play a vital role in supporting recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). Developing skills to regulate emotions and manage stress during early stages of recovery can help manage triggers and prevent relapse. Controlled breathing (i.e., intentional manipulation of rate and/or depth of breathing over time - often referred to as "breathwork") can enhance emotion regulation, but their effects have been minimally studied in individuals recovering from SUD.
This randomized controlled pilot study will examine the impact of breathwork and meditation training program ("SKY Recovery") designed for people in substance use recovery. It will take place at a residential substance use recovery treatment center in upstate New York with patients in recovery who have elected to participate in the SKY Recovery program delivered at the treatment center. The study will compare two groups (SKY Recovery vs. Control) to assess the intervention's impact on emotional well-being and craving. Participants randomized to the SKY group will complete a 5-day intensive workshop followed by weekly follow-up sessions. The Control group will receive the same intervention after a delay. Validated measures of emotion regulation, craving, and sleep quality will be collected at baseline, one week after the program, and again 3 weeks after the program to determine efficacy and feasibility for a larger trial.